A strange request from an ESL teacher

[blunder1983]

Hi guys,

I'm a native English speaker working in South Korea in a girls middle school. Having come from a truely horrific job in London I haven't been this happy in a LONG time, I love my students and the creativity I can imbue into my lessons.

I have played many AGS games and am consistently in awe of the quality of game you all produce. Now, its common knowledge Koreans LOVE computer games so much so people die playing them because they dont drink and eat enough while they play. I'm looking to harness this love of games and channel it towards English learning.

Have any of you played in memoriam? It was a creepy game with you using the internet to solve puzzles layed out by a serial killer, it was hugely enjoyable and genuinely original. Now I want to rip that idea off and create an ESL (English as a Second Language) version.

I'm not getting over ambitious, I am only intending on using websites and internet, no flash or anything but I've come up with some ideas I think that would work

Researching
"Hacking" a MSN hotmail account (created for that specific purpose)
Writing Emails
Viewing English blogs
Creating hidden messages from news reports (using a key or similar)
Hidden text on websites (i.e. white text on a white backdrop)

I'm thinking of the storyline going something like this:

A secret organisation mistakenly emails you
You discover that they are a "good" spy agency and someone is hunting down their operatives
You must search through old spy journals (blogs) access their dummy corporations hidden webpages, access their emails etc. etc.
This reveals the name of the double agent who is then apprehended.

This is a BASIC draft. I am looking for people who are keen to come up with: Interesting puzzles, flesh for the story, any website creation (if possible) and simply feedback. I'm NOT doing this for any profit. If it gets successful (and I think it could be really big over here, let alone japan, china (tho the baddies might have to be altered for them ) etc. etc. meaning lots of kids will benefit)

So drop me a PM if ur interested in helping, and remember this actually could have a positive impact on 100s of childrens lives, as well as being pretty fun to make.

Thanks, and sorry for being so imprecise its still just an idea at the moment!

[Haddas]

That sounds awesome. That's a nice story you've come up with. I like it. Any chance you'll make a "completely" english version of it too? Because I for one want to play this.

As for flesh, how about false operatives? As in false leads, and or possibly other criminals that you can ome across and get extra points for if you discover their intentions. You've probably thought of this, but I though just incase.

Aaanyway. Good luck with your project. I will most certainly play it when it comes out.

[Dave Gilbert]

Hello Mr. Blunder!

As you know I am also in your shoes. I am working at an English school in South Korea as well.  I have to be honest when I'm not sure if the kids would really be interested in something like this.  It's school.  It doesn't matter if it's a game - if you assign it, it automatically becomes WORK and therefore not fun.   Plus, gaming seems to be a social activity here, as opposed to a solitary one (as seen by the multitudes of people gathering in PC cafes and yelling at each other).  Of course, that's just my observation based on my 6 weeks of being there.   I think a game set at an ESL academy would be interesting, though.  Good luck to you.

[aussie]

I taught Spanish in an Australian high school for a year.

Back then I actually made a very short adventure game that I used once or twice in class. I named it "Estar Wars" (since "estar" is the Spanish pronunciation for Star and it also means "to be" in Spanish).

You had to move the character around, and understand the messages in order to finish the game.

But I found the smartest kids got it out and ended up telling each other how to go about things, which ultimately defeated the point of the game.
 
The experience was ok, but probably not worth the effort.

Just my two cents.

[simulacra]

You REALLY should make this call at Unfiction.com as well. What you are describing is an Alternate Reality Game (ARG). There are lots of ARG developers over at Unfiction who make and run this sort of game at a regular basis.

[blunder1983]

Interesting comments,

First up, I agree school is school no matter what. BUT i know if my kids had to choose between a lousy writing assignment or a thriller where they are the lead then I think they'd choose the game. Granted cheating is gonna be a problem, when is it not. The motivated ones will be the ones who are going to try and they are the ones who'll benefit most anyway. Thanks for the unfiction link i'll head there shortly. But does no one want to help me with the story and puzzles? thats the easy bit!

[passer-by]

But does no one want to help me with the story and puzzles? thats the easy bit!

I don't promise anything, but I'm working on something for beginners' french vocabulary and grammar and I may come up with a couple of ideas which I won't need, since mine won't be a game but an autocorrect  "tool" more like.